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NASA Webb Telescope
@nasawebb

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Webb has detected carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere of K2-18 b, a potentially habitable world over 8 times bigger than Earth. An abundance of carbon dioxide and methane (along with a shortage of ammonia) is intriguing to astronomers: It supports the idea that this planet may have a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Webb also hinted at a detection of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) on K2-18 b. On Earth, this molecule is only produced by microbial life. Because the detection needs to be confirmed, the team plans to follow up and look for additional evidence of biological activity on the planet. While K2-18 b is in the habitable zone (where conditions are right for liquid water to exist), that does not necessarily mean it can support life. For instance, it may have a hostile environment due to its active star. Its ocean may also be too hot to be habitable. Learn more at our link in bio. Descriptions: 1. Graphic titled: “Webb Discovers Methane, Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere of a Distant World.” The background artist illustration shows a blue planet on the right, with its small, glowing red star in the lower left. Between them is a tiny white crescent in the distance. 2. Graphic which reads: “Atmosphere Composition: Data from Webb’s NIRISS and NIRSpec Instruments. About 120 light-years away is exoplanet K2-18 b, a potentially habitable world over 8 times bigger than Earth. Webb’s data (below) supports the hypothesis that the planet might have a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.” Below this is a graph with the y-axis labeled as Amount of Light Blocked and the x-axis as Wavelength of Light (microns). The data is plotted as dots with vertical error bars. A jagged blue line shows the best-fit model. Semi-transparent magenta, red and green columns indicate detections of methane, carbon dioxide, and dimethyl sulfide in the data. Behind the graph is an illustration of the planet and star. Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI), Joseph Olmsted (STScI). Science: Nikku Madhusudhan (IoA) #Exoplanet #JWST #NASA #Astrobiology #Space #Habitable #World #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope #Science